Dead Woman's Ink

What a bleak title, ay...

So in year 2 and year 5 I had the pleasure of having the same TA (teaching assistant); her name was Francis. We all liked her, she was one of the best TAs. At some point during year 5 she swapped her red pen, which was running out, with mine which was still quite ripe for a 10 year old's pen. Why did I swap it? I think when you're that age you'd swap anything to have something of your teacher's, as weird as that sounds now.

Carrying on with the story, a few years back I found out that she had died from cancer. I was upset but still recalled I had her pen. I searched for it and found that it still had ink. This surprised me. The exterior was falling apart, but after so many years, the pen was still working, the very reason she didn't keep it.

A couples years on now, and I still have the pen. I decide to write with it, feeling nostalgic more than anything. It stops working - invisible indents on the page.

I'm in a dilemma now. The ink has run it's course.

Shall I throw it away?
I haven't decided yet.

Strangers //

So I was coming home from work one night. I get off the train and walk to the bus stop to wait for my brother who isn't usually late when picking me up. As I stand there waiting, a man approaches me and says: 'hey!'. 'Obviously' I'm slightly alarmed by this sudden interaction and pause for a second before curiously replying: 'hey'. He notices I'm a little unnerved and continues: 'I'm not gonna murder you'. I laugh immediately, quite caught off guard by his upfront manner about the situation and reply: 'yh, true, why can't we all just be friendly to one and other?'. We agree. And just as any good conversation would have started, it comes to an abrupt end when my brother shows up and I bid the maybe/maybe-not-a-murderer a farewell.

--
I indent the word 'obviously' because it's quite the oxymoron in this situation. 'OBVIOUSLY' you should be alarmed when a hooded man starts a conversation at an abandoned bus stop around 1am. However, knowing my own beliefs about being able to walk up to people and have a true conversation with them, i surprise myself with my actions. So the indent marks as the juxtaposition of what is likely - being alarmed, and what I should not have been - alarmed. I am insulting myself for not realising sooner that that man could be me one day sparking a convo with a fellow human being.

Here is one of my favourite quotes in life; it's pretty self explanatory and something I agree with and try my best to do.

- From a film called: 'Along Came A Spider':

Cross: 'You do what you are. You're born with a gift, if not that, then you get good at something along the way. And what you're good at, you don't take for granted, you don't betray it.'

Flannigan: 'What if you do, betray your gift?'

Cross: 'Then you betray yourself. That's a sad thing.'

.... I'm sure you can see why I love this; I agree with it 95% (which is very high as I am quite the sceptic).

Another brief encounter...

So I was walking into the unisex toilets at my university and as I'm trying to walk in, it feels like something is stopping me. As I'm struggling to open this door (and questioning my strength) I realise there's someone on the other side trying to open the door to get out as I'm trying to pull it open to walk in.

After a good 5 second struggle, the door finally opens. We both stare at each other in silence for another 2 seconds before laughing hysterically for a few more seconds as I continue into the toilets and as he walks back out.

......... I haven't laughed that much with a stranger in a long while, probably never in my life actually. It felt good and was a nice experience.

So this was another little encounter that made my day and I guess if anything with this post, I am encouraging you to not only laugh more with strangers, but also to realise to not take little encounters like this in your day for granted.

.. As always, LIVE LIFE!

P.S - to random toilet guy -  I don't know you, and I won't be attending uni any more, but I hope you succeed in life! P.P.S - I recall you had a nice smile (=

Filming at Gigs:

So I've been making films from the age of 11 (Nokia brick phones and windows movie maker, you know the deal); and have studied filming 'properly' for 3 years now. With all that aside, I generally like to make films, and short clips/vlogs of everything in my life that is exciting to me. My mates and family know I'll be the one to pop out a camera when there's something remotely interesting going on or of the likes... And that's just who I am.

So, my 'brief' life story aside, I'm writing this blogpost to address people who think it's stupid to film at gigs and don't understand it.

So you're at a gig and there's someone beside you filming the artist playing, and you start to wonder 'why'.... You are the HATURRRRR!..  And I'm here to hopefully educate you on why WE (the strange folk with the rectangular devices) do it. So listen up!

Now, you may think that we're twats because we're not 'fully enjoying the atmosphere' or some bullshit. But the real deal (for most of us) is:

- this is one of my favourite artists, so I'm gonna record a clip to remember that I saw them live.

- this is one of my favourite songs, so I wanna record myself singing along with everyone.

- this is one of the best night's of my life, so I wanna record and remember the amazing atmosphere.

..Now, is that so hard for you HATUUURRZZZZZ to grasp?!! We're filming because we like to keep memories of the good night we had!!

Now, granted, there are those (I've sadly fallen witness to a few times) who literally stand there the whole night and film the whole set (professional/hired videographers aside). However, most of us just wanna record short clips of talented bands/artists who've played, and of the generally sick night we've had.. There's no bloody harm in that, is there?

So, to the HATURRRZZ - just relax and let people enjoy themselves the way they like.. The clips aren't gonna fucking punch you in the throat, so you're cool.


**
Bit o' background info to why I wrote this post:-

Two situations occurred recently that spurred this:

1) guy on twitter wrote something like 'why do people film at gigs...' which angered me due to his obvious ignorance.

2) went to a gig and the security guard (literally breathed down my earlobe and into my soul) told me to stop filming my 20 second clip.. which also angered me for obvious reasons. However, I had a conversation with him after the gig and explained why I was filming, e.g - enjoyment, memories, vid for blogpost.. But he was adamant that artists don't like to be filmed and that you should enjoy the gig rather than take videos. All which are reasonable reasons (see what I did there?), but obviously I wouldn't be writing this post unless I disagreed with him.

Finally, I'm sorry this turned into something much longer than what I assumed, but yh...

All of you out there who film profusely at gigs, maybe the HATUUUUURZ have a point; however if you're filming a minute clip to remember the great night you had, then fucking carry on doing so!

Live life init.

(Think that phrase is becoming a thing now aha). 

The little things...

So the bus I was on stopped at traffic. I looked out of the window to see this guy aggressively, yet happily bopping his head to the music being played in his car. Basically loving life (and the little sun we get in the UK). He then saw that I was admiring his moves and immediately started bopping his head toward me. The bus then started to move again...

THIS LITTLE ENCOUNTER MADE MY DAY!

The fact that I was smiling so much after just watching someone enjoy life made me wonder:

if someone just enjoying themselves in such a little way made me overjoyed at the sight, it 1) goes to show how much of a shitty day I had, and 2) mainly shows that being happy yourself, makes other people happy!

So, the lesson for today - ALWAYS BE HAPPY AND DO WHAT WHAT YOU WANT, AS IT WILL MAKE OTHER PEOPLE HAPPY TOO!

Also, you never know when you'll encounter death, so just LIVE YOUR LIFE! 
And... BE HAPPY. 
INIT.

*INSERT 'Pharrell - Happy' HERE*